PM Narendra Modi vows to make Bundelkhand into Kutch

NEW DELHI: PM Modi has promised to transform Bundelkhand — the most backward region of UP — into a region similar to Gujarat’s Kutch, if the BJP is voted to power even as he slammed Mayawati, alleging that she had changed her party into “Behenji Sampatti Party.”

Addressing a BJP rally in Orai constituency of Jalaun district, Modi said the Bundelkhand region has lagged behind on development as it was neglected by the SP, BSP and Congress during their respective regimes in UP. “SP and BSP have ignored Bundelkhand over the years and these elections are crucial for Bundelkhand... It has to decide whether it has to get rid of SP-BSP or not,” Modi said. He promised to transform Bundelkhand — which he alleged had not seen any development in the last seven decades — in five years.

“Mineral-rich Bundelkhand can change the fate of UP, illegal mining has to be stopped. Satellites launched by India can be used to check the clandestine activities,” Modi said. He said, “Some believe nothing can be done in Bundelkhand... it can be made no.1 in the state... there is Kutch district in Gujarat ...20 years ago if any government staff was posted there, it was considered ‘kala pani’ (the colonial-era jail in Andamans).

“But after the earthquake there, we started working on it and today it is the most-developing district in the country. This can be done here too if the intention is right and if one has the resolve,” Modi stressed.

Attacking Mayawati on her opposition to demonetisation, the PM mockingly said that BSP no longer stood for Bahujan Samaj Party but had become “Behenji Sampatt i ( wealth) Party”.

Countering Modi, Mayawati said: “The Prime Minister has compelled me to define Narendra Damodardas Modi as ‘Mr Negative Dalit Man’.” “Narendra stands for ‘negative’, Damodardas means ‘Dalit’ and Modi is ‘Man’,” she said in English.